The War of the Empire's had ended very

long ago, and yet its impact reached the

corners of Laniev's cruel smile even now.

The past Emperor, Laniev's father, had

set out into war all those years ago. Along

with him went her brothers and their mother,

leaving Laniev alone in the lmperial Palace.

She hated the Corvus Empire, truly believing

they were the reason her entire family was

slaughtered on the front lines. When she

heard the news of all their deaths she threw

a fit. Laniev had always been known for her

gently and kind demeano, so this had

shocked the maids and servants.

Yet, how did they expect her to act?

Her entire family was now dead.

Prince Ronik felt the same. His father had

ventured into war, giddily happy at the news

of the Vermiculus Empire's deceased ruler.

A soldier was later sent to Ronik with

news of his death.

Ronik's mother had already died due to

sickness, and so both of the heirs were left

alone.

The Medeis Society, a group of mages and

wizards who came from both Empires, saw

the unrest. They knew that the war would

only continue if both heirs were to grow up

on the hate of the other.

So, they devised a plan.

Telling each heir they wanted to teach

them magic, they had both heirs come to the

Medeis Society's mansion. Of course, a

request to come to the Medeis Society's

estate was rare, even for royalty, and so both

parties accepted.

This is all stupid. Laniev huffed, pouting.

Although she had experienced travesty

beyond belief, she was still a fourteen year

old girl. One who had pride and saw these

magic lessons as idiotic.

"And I have to use a fake name,' she

mumbled. "I don't understand why. If the

noble council hadn't agreed to this, I would

have never-

"Are you mumbling?" A sudden sharp

tone spoke to her. "It's annoying, stop it."

Laniev turned to the boy next to her. He

had dark hair, fair skin, and shiny silver eyes

like coins. Something about him reminded

herself of someone, but she couldn't guite

rememnber who.

She scoffed, "l'm sorry, but I wasn't even

speaking to you. Don't interrupt me if it has

nothing to do with you."

The boy met her gaze easily, scoffing

back at her. "It does have something to do

with me. I can't concentrate if you're

spouting nonsense."

Laniev rose her raven eyebrows in

mocking. "Focus on what exactly? The

lesson hasn't even begun."

He blushed for a second and turned

away. "I was just, preparing myself!"

She laughed, an enchanting sound. This

was the first time she had ever interacted

with someone her age. It was fun! "What's

your name?" She asked with a smile.

"I'm" the boy paused. "Ron."

Laniev nodded slowly. "Okay."

"And" the boy turned to Laniev, slightly

embarrassed. "What's your name?"

The false name the noble council had

agreed on changed as she opened her

mouth. Maybe some part of her wanted at

least part of it all to be real, and so she

offered part of her name. "Im Lani."

Neither of them asked for each other's

last names, as if knowing they both had a

reason to keep them a secret.

But they didn't mind that.

"Welcome you two" an old man walked

into the room. He walked onto the stage,

surveying the almost empty vast room.

Laniev had been here before, once. Her

brothers had received their knightage from

the Medeis Society, and this room was where

they had received their swords.

"Is it only us two?" She asked curiously.

She had expected a full class.

The man nodded, his old beard moving

slowly with his head. "Yes. Now, what were

your names?"

"Lani."

"Ron."

The side of the man's mouth came up

slightly, a small chuckle finding its way out.

"All right, Lani, Ron. Let's begin your first

lesson, shall we?"

And so the two began to learn alongside

each other. After a week or so, the wariness

thev had of each other faded away and they

grew to care about each other. But peace

can only go undisturbed for so lona.

"We want your lessons to stop

immediately.

A Vermiculus Noble had stormed into the

Medeis Society's estate. "For a Princess to

learn magic herself is distasteful, can you

not buy trained mages?'

Duke Alpheus.

He was a powerful noble who had been

trying to take control of Laniev for a while,

and to keep someone in your own control

you had to keep them weak.

it.

Laniev knew that.

"Who are you to tell me what | can and

cannot do?" Laniev looked to him, sipping

her tea with a smile. She had been staying at

the Medeis Society for about a month. None

of the Vermiculus Nobles had assumed she

would take it this seriously, and so, they were

getting alarmed she was going through with

You couldn't have a Princess getting too

powerful, right?

"It isn't that, Princess, but as your relative

I care for your well-being. What if you get

hurt?" The Duke's voice had become a little

louder, pushing a little harder.

"I won't get hurt."

"Are you sure? You do not know the

people here!" His voice rose higher and

Laniev felt the teacup in her hand shake.

"Someone could hurt you! You cannot trust

these vermin! You need true Vermiculans to

protect you!"

As he shouted, the plates and cups on

the table in front of them began to shake,

moving toward the end of the table steadily

and slowly.

"These Medeis Society people are shady,

Your Highness! You can't trust them!" He

banged his fist on the table, finally pushing

the cutlery, ceramic plates, and cookies onto

the floor.

They shattered, creating a large sound.

Shards flew everywhere, slightly scrapping

Laniev's arms and face.

She didn't flinch when the blood dripped

down. This pain is nothing, she told herself.

"Lani!" A boy pushed the door open, his

tall yet still adolescent figure stood tall.

"What did he do to you?" The normally

relaxed and cold Ron that Laniev knew had

disappeared. His eyes were aflame with

anger as he entered the small meeting

room

Duke Alpheus's eyes widened as he

bowed over and over. "I am so sorry! Forgive

me Your

H-"

"Leave."

The old man the two called teacher

stormed into the room, interrupting Duke

Alpheus. He held a staff in his hands, and for

once, the two saw anger in his eyes. "We will

not tolerate acts of violence" the teacher

said angrily. He swept his hand out and all

the ceramic shards disappeared instantly, an

easy spell for the master of the Medeis

Society.

"But I am a citizen of the Vermiculus

Empire, I will not listen to some old man-

"Leave"

Laniev wiped her face with the back of

her hand, watching the crimson streak on her

skin. "You won't listen to him? Fine. As the

Imperial Princess of the Vermiculus Empire, I

command you to leave. Is that enough for

you, Duke?"

Duke Alpheus clenched his teeth angrily

before letting out a long breath. "Yes. I will

take my leave now."

Duke Alpheus left swiftly and silence

settled in, but only for a moment.

"Teacher, why would you let that man see

Lani?" He embraced Laniev easily. "We have

to get her to a doctor!"

"Calm down boy." The teacher waved a

hand at Laniev and her wounds vanished.

Ronik let go of Laniev carefully. "Lani,

are you okav?"

Laniev nodded. She was just relieved

Ron hadn't heard the Duke call her Your

Highness. "I'm fine. It didn't hurt.

"Like hell it didn't hurt. Who was he? Why

did he want to see you?"

The old man stared down at Ronik, his

stare piercing. "No more questions" he said

angrily. "There are things you do not need to

know yet. How did you even get in here?"

"The quards are slow" Ronik said with a

shrug. "I heard something shatter and |

thought Lani could get hurt."

Just then, the old man began to laugh,

slowly at first then quicker and louder. "I'm

glad."

The two teenagers had been utterly

confused at the time. Why did the old man

seem so happy they were getting along? It

was a question they had asked themselves

at the time, but as weeks passed it was

forgotten.

Princess Laniev and Prince Ronik only

knew each other by Lani and Ron, but they

began to know each other more closely than

people who knew their true names. Their

relationship continued to grow, and they

quickly became the most important person

to each other.

Yet, not all things go as we wished they

would.

The Medeis Society were quite happy.

The two heirs were getting along, and the

probability of a war arising didn't seem likely.

The Medeis Society had been thinking of

revealing their identities, but they wanted to

do so gently.

The question was how.

"Make sure to lower to lower your

stance when you strike," Ronik said quietly,

showing Laniev.

Laniev nodded and copied. They had

both been told to rest for the remainder of

the day, but they had decided to keep

practicing swordsmanship out in the

courtyard during the night. If the old man

heard them, they'd never hear the end of it

"When you strike you have to swing

using your entire body" he demonstrated,

"like this. Okay, Lani?"

Laniev nodded. "The sword is really

heavy though. My arms hurt Ron."

Ronik nodded, he came closer to her

quickly, helping her hold the sword by placing

his hand under its middle. "It will be heavy

when you start, but that's why you have to

practice a lot. I started training a few years

back, so that's why I'm used to its weight."

Laniev nodded and began to swing the

sword again. The moonlight glinted as it

danced on the tip of the metal sword. The

cool wind blew and short ragged breaths

filled the space. Although Laniev's arms

stung and sweat trickled down her face, she

couldn't help but feel at peace like this. With

Ronik. She couldn't help but smile as she

swung the large weapon.

"Lani, let's take a break."

Laniev nodded, putting down the sword.

They both laid on the grass, staring up at the

stars

"Though the heavens fall," Laniev

whispered, "let us stay together."

"What?" Ron asked.

"It's a phrase my Mom liked to say"

Laniev said. "It means that no matter what no matter what difficulties befall those in

love, they will stay together."

Ron scoffed, taking off his jacket and

placing it on Laniev. "That isn't realistic, but"

he paused, "it's a hopeful dream-"

"Yes, that's correct. He's thinking of

revealing their identities tomorrow!" Two

mages spoke as they scuttled through the

pathways in the courtyard, unaware of Laniev

and Ronik's presence.

"Seeing how close those two have

become, I don't think it'll be an issue" the

other mage replied indifferently.

"You say that, but when you find out your

best friend is the son of the person who

murdered your whole family, it isn't as simple

as you think" the other replied.

"I guess you're right. I mean one is

Princess Laniev of the Vermiculus Empire

and the other is a Prince of the Corvus

Emnire and the other is a Prince of the Corvus

Empire. Their parents probably tell each of

them horror stories about the other."

Laniev listened in silence. The dots

were there, but she found herself not

wanting to connect them. She couldn't

because that would mean-

"You're." she trailed off, her speech

barely a whisper. "Ron, you're-". Instantly, her

sadness turned to anger. / was left al alone.

And it's because of his family. Her hand went

immediately to the sword she had set aside,

but Ron had already grabbed it and stood

up.

"My father!" Ronik screamed, his face

contorted in rage. "Your family did it! | was

there when they brought his head home! You

ruined everything!" He held the sword,

pointed at her throat.

Laniev didn't know what to say. Didn't

know what to do. One part of her wanted to

shake her head, tell him that it was neither of

their faults. She knew her families death

wasn't because of him, but in that moment

the truth didn't matter. Laniev had been

pushing down every emotion she had seen

as unneeded: pain, the want of love. She

pushed all of those deep inside her, and now

she finally had a way to let them out. She

finally had someone to blame.

She needed someone to blame.

She would go insane otherwise.

Just like that, all the good memories and

emotions Laniev had created with Ronik

were wiped away by a single revelation. They

cared for each other, but the pent up

despairs they had built for years needed an

output desperately. And they finally had one.

"You all killed my entire family!" She

screamed, tears rushing down her face and

into the grass she still laid on. She glared up

at Ronik. "I was left all alone. That time that

man hurt me, you remember don't you? He's

who I have to deal with on the daily, and it is

all because of you Corvians!"

Prince Ronik scoffed, sword still

pointed, though Laniev could see his arm

shake, only slightly. "Am I supposed to care?

I thought differently about you, I really did,

but now | learn this?"

Laniev tried to move, "l guess we're in

agreement, then-"

As she tried get up, Ronik moved the

sword, maybe only slightly, but soon crimson

began to drip from her face.

Ronik's mistake seemed to wake him up

from his vengeful trance. "Lani, I'm sorry.

didn't mean to-"

"All you Corvians are the same!" She

screamed, sitting up fully. "You cut me!"

Laniev felt her face, grimacing in pain." You

actually-"

"What is happening here!" The old man,

their teacher, ran to them amid the darkness,

the two mages at his back. They had

probably gone to fetch him when they heard

them shouting.

"Teacher! He's one of the people who

murdered my family" Laniev said angrily.

Ronik turned back to Laniev. "You killed

my entire family too! My father was all | had

left-

"Silence!"

In a swift motion, the sword flew out of

Ronik's hands. The old man had done that

With that, Laniev quickly got up, not even

stopping to wipe her face. She ran toward

the building.

"I'm going back to Vermiculus Empire,"

she said as she ran. "I don't want to come

back here ever again.

That had been the last time they had

seen each other. As monarchs of their own

Empires, they never attempted to finish the

war their parents had started, maybe out of

respect or lingering feelings, not that either

of them would admit it. Ronik had always

regretted what had happened that day.

Laniev did too, but they didn't want to move

past their family's death. Forgiveness Would

mean that.

Ten years had passed since that day, and

the first thing Ronik had asked Laniev was if

she wanted to marry hinm.

Although she wouldn't tell anyone, Ron

not being in her life had hurt her. There were

times when she would suddenly wish she

could go back to learning magic and

swordship with Ron. The innocent joy and

thrill she felt as Ron placed his hand on her

arm to adjust her stance, every small

argument over magic theory, each and every

one of those memories were precious to her.

He was precious to her.

But he took your family away from you.

A small voice in her head still said things

like that, but oddly enough, she couldn't bring

herself to be angry. Even after ten years, Ron

was stilI Ron, and he didn't seem to be angry

at her now either. So why should she?

"Ill do it" she said. "IIl marry you."